Where You Are

School is a big part of kids’ lives. When anxiety gets in the way of a child going to or staying at school, this can be really hard on the whole family. In this episode we look at what’s behind school anxiety, when parents should reach out for help, tips for parents and caregivers to promote their own coping, and strategies to help get your child back in their regular school routine. Listeners, he...

Parenting a kid with OCD can be difficult because you often have to go against your natural instincts. In this episode Michelle and Bryn are joined by Jen, a parent of a youth struggling with OCD, and Dr. Evelyn Stewart, Psychiatrist at BC Children’s Hospital and the founding Director of the Provincial Pediatric Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Clinic. They discuss what OCD is and isn’t, how to know...

For our final episode of Season 3, Bryn & Michelle bring questions from BC parents and caregivers to two leading child and youth mental health experts at BC Children’s Hospital, Dr. Ashley Miller and Dr. Amrit Dhariwal. Together they dig into questions including: How can I connect my teen when they won’t even talk to me? How can I best support my child through tough situations like the loss of...

We are sharing this great episode from Anxiety Canada’s Podcast, #OurAnxietyStories. As hosts of  Where You Are , we know how powerful hearing mental health stories can be. This episode, released in October 2021, follows Botswana born and Canadian raised, 14-year-old Malia Baker. Her journey with anxiety peaked in Grade 4. Malia offers great strategies that she has learned to...

It’s important to talk openly with your child about substance use from an early age, but as parents and caregivers we don’t always know where to start. Michelle and Bryn sit down with Cindy Andrew and Art Steinmann, both parents and professionals with 30+ years of experience working in the field of youth substance use within BC schools and communities, to discuss how to talk about subs...

In BC, approximately 1 in 6 youth engage in self-harm. Self-harm, also referred to as self-injury, is a behaviour used to cope with bigger, underlying emotions – and is also a behaviour that many parents and other caring adults are understandably concerned about. In this episode, we speak to a youth, Ciara, who has lived experience with self-harm; and a clinical counsellor, Kim Leifso, who h...

Family life can be super stressful at times, there’s no doubt about it.  And that’s where mindfulness can be helpful. Bryn and guest host Char Black sit down with Alison, a mother and coach for neurodiverse families, and Dr. Joanna McDermid, a Psychiatrist and the Associate Director of the BC Children’s Centre for Mindfulness. They discuss how mindfulness can support your ov...

We are hard at work on upcoming episodes. And with Family Day just around the corner we are sharing one of our favourite episodes from Season 1. We all know parenting can be difficult. But when your child is struggling, emotionally or mentally, "difficult" doesn't begin to describe it. Feeling unable to help them is nothing short of devastating. So what can you do when none of your regular tools s...

Between ages 0-6, a child’s social and emotional health is every bit as important as their physical health. It affects how they express emotions, deal with stress, develop friendships, and more. Join Bryn and Michelle as they take a closer look at social and emotional development (SED) in the early years, including what it is, how you can support your child’s SED, and how these skills...

Stress levels and burnout for school professionals has been a significant and growing issue for quite some time and have only increased with the COVID-19 pandemic. Michelle and guest co-host Gail Markin come together with Vanessa, a school District Counsellor, and Kim Weatherby, lead for EdCan's Well at Work Advisors program, to look at the importance of teacher and school staff well-being and wha...

In this episode Michelle and Bryn are joined by Kelly, a parent of a youth diagnosed with an eating disorder, and Dr. Jennifer Coelho, Psychologist at BC Children’s Hospital’s Provincial Specialized Eating Disorder Program, to answer questions we often hear from families about supporting a youth with an eating disorder. The conversation covers how to support your child at home, managin...

As we wrap up Season 2 of our podcast, we decided to reach out to our listeners and ask you to send in your questions about child and youth mental health. This episode explores a range of topics including anxiety, stress, technology use, managing family relationships, and how to have conversations about tough topics with your child. So grab your headphones and tune in as we dig into your questions...

Concurrent disorders are when mental illness and a substance use disorder happen at the same time. For example, depression and alcohol dependence or anxiety and opioid dependency. Join our podcast guests Ngaire, a parent of four, and Jennifer Toomey, a Registered Psychiatric Nurse at BC Children’s Hospital, as they discuss how to best support and treat youth with concurrent disorders. They o...

Raising a child with ADHD is challenging. With the disrupted routines and uncertainty of COVID-19, these challenges may be intensifying for some families. In this webinar recording, we will discuss these challenges and provide concrete tips to parents and caregivers for supporting children and youth with ADHD in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy...

This special episode is Part 2b in the recording of a Kelty Centre webinar series. It focuses on practical strategies to support high-school aged youth.  In this webinar Dr. Sarah Anderson from BC Children’s Hospital, Julie Collette from Vancouver Coastal Health, and Paula Foran from the Vancouver School Board discuss how to develop a roadmap for successful school attendance based on yo...

This special episode is Part 2a in the recording of a Kelty Centre webinar series, and focused on practical strategies to support elementary school-aged children. In this webinar Dr. Sarah Anderson from BC Children’s Hospital, Julie Collette from Vancouver Coastal Health, and Paula Foran from the Vancouver School Board cover how to develop a roadmap for successful school attendance based on...

This special episode is Part 1 in the recording of a Kelty Centre webinar series. Getting to school or managing a whole day at school can be really hard for some children and youth, due to anxiety or other related challenges. Dr. Alex DiGiacomo, BC Children’s Hospital, and Alexanda Wilson, Vancouver School Board SACY Program, provide parents and caregivers with a foundation for successful sc...

Many families are looking for better ways to guide their kids’ technology use, and to avoid battles and negotiations around screen time, video games, and tech use at home. This has become even more of a concern for many parents with the increased use of screens during COVID-19.  Dr. Shimi Kang, child and youth psychiatrist, and her teenage son Joesh, offer practical tips for families to...

Going back to school is stressful for some children and youth – and this year, there may be even more anxiety and stress because of COVID-19. This special episode is a recording of a Kelty Centre webinar. Dr. Rosalind Catchpole and Dr. Sarah Anderson from BC Children's Hospital go over practical tools and strategies you can use to set your family up for a successful return to school this yea...

This episode is for school professionals. We bring together the voices and ideas of educators in rural and remote schools to share their learnings on how to support student and staff mental health and well-being.  Caitlin Currie  (Principal, Alexis Creek Elementary/Junior Secondary School) and Derrick Shaw (Principal, Valemount Secondary School) shine a light on both the small and big th...

The mind-body connection is powerful. Somatization is the process of experiencing emotions as physical symptoms. Everyone experiences somatization, but, for some, it gets in the way of everyday life and requires treatment. Join Lena, a parent of a child who has been affected by somatization and Dr. Andrea Chapman (Psychiatrist, BC Children’s Hospital) as they offer families tips and resource...

Parents know the importance nutrition plays in a child’s physical health, but what about their mental health? Join Char, a parent with two little ones, and Lorrie Chow, a dietitian at BC Children’s Hospital, for strategies that can reduce mealtime stress and help your child develop a healthy relationship with food.  NOTE: This episode was recorded in studio, prior to the COVID cri...

With COVID-19, life at home looks drastically different. Parents are wearing multiple hats and being pulled in 100 different directions, with many feeling stretched and overwhelmed. In this special episode, Dr. Ashley Miller, BC Children’s Hospital Psychiatrist and mother of two, shares steps families can take to manage stress and stay emotionally connected while living in close quarters.&nb...

In BC, 1 in 6 youth engages in self-harm (also known as self-injury). Self-harm is a behaviour used to cope with bigger, underlying emotions. It is also a behaviour that many parents and other caring adults are understandably concerned about. In this episode, we speak to a youth, Ciara, who has lived experience with self-harm; and a clinical counselor, Kim Leifso, who has supported many youths who...

We all know parenting can be difficult. But when your child is struggling, emotionally or mentally, "difficult" doesn't begin to describe it. Feeling unable to help them is nothing short of devastating. So what can you do when none of your regular tools seem to be working? In this episode, Mary (mom of 3) and Dr. Ashley Miller (BC Children's Child Psychiatrist) discuss specific parenting strategie...